UPRISERS Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2273

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-12-11T09:06:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The UPRISERS Act (H.R. 2273) aims to address public safety concerns by targeting international students involved in violent acts against law enforcement or rioting. It seeks to revoke their visas and make them eligible for deportation to prevent such individuals from remaining in the United States.

Key Provisions

• Visa Revocation: The Secretary of State must revoke the visa of any non-citizen admitted under the F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), or M (vocational student) categories of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) if they are convicted of:
• Assaulting a police officer, or
• A riot-related offense, including inciting, organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying out a riot; committing violence to advance a riot; or aiding/abetting others in these activities.
• Deportability Addition: Amends Section 237(a)(2) of the INA to create a new ground for deportation specifically for F, J, or M visa holders convicted of the above offenses.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a mandatory visa revocation process tied directly to these convictions, which was not previously specified for student visa categories.
• Adds a new subparagraph (G) to INA Section 237(a)(2), expanding the list of deportable offenses to explicitly include assault on police officers and riot-related crimes for student and exchange visa holders. Previously, such convictions might fall under broader criminal grounds for deportation, but this creates a targeted category.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of State will handle visa revocations, increasing administrative workload. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will see more deportation cases, potentially straining resources for enforcement and hearings.
• Citizens and Residents: Enhances public safety by removing convicted individuals from communities, but could indirectly affect U.S. citizens through increased immigration enforcement activities.
• International Relations: May lead to diplomatic tensions with countries whose students are affected, as it could be perceived as targeting foreign nationals broadly and impacting educational exchanges.
• Broader Effects: Universities and educational institutions may face challenges in retaining international students, potentially reducing enrollment and cultural diversity on campuses.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• International Students and Exchange Visitors: Those on F, J, or M visas convicted of the specified offenses face immediate visa loss and deportation risk.
• U.S. Law Enforcement: Benefits from quicker removal of convicted individuals, aiding in maintaining order during protests or unrest.
• Educational Institutions: Universities, colleges, and vocational schools relying on international tuition may experience enrollment drops or administrative burdens in reporting or complying.
• Immigration Authorities: State Department and DHS personnel tasked with implementation.
• Foreign Governments: Countries sending students to the U.S. could see impacts on bilateral educational programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens immigration enforcement by linking specific criminal convictions to automatic consequences, but could invite challenges over the definition of "riot-related offenses" (e.g., distinguishing between protected protest and criminal activity). Convictions must be final for triggers to apply, preserving some due process.
• Constitutional: Potential free speech concerns if applied to non-violent protest participation, as the First Amendment protects assembly; however, the bill focuses on violent or inciting acts, which are not protected. Equal protection issues might arise if enforcement disproportionately affects certain nationalities.
• Political: Reflects a focus on public safety amid concerns over campus unrest or protests, but could be seen as politically motivated targeting of "radical" activities, influencing debates on immigration policy and student rights without altering broader visa eligibility rules.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-03-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• UProot Rioting International Students Engaged in Radical Subversion Act — issued 2025-03-21 — PDF (3 pages)